Residents of the Ghuggar area in Palampur are facing hardships due to restrictions imposed on LPG refill booking. Due to the alleged discrimination and administrative apathy, the issue has escalated into a major public concern and consumers engaging in arguments at the local gas agency office every day. The residents rue the mandatory 45-day waiting period for booking LPG refills at the Ghuggar gas agency, compared to just 35 days at another agency operating within the same municipal limits. Sources indicate that the Ghuggar gas agency has been categorised under the “rural” segment, which enforces a longer refill cycle. However, the residents argue that both agencies fall within the jurisdiction of the Palampur Municipal Corporation, making the disparity difficult to justify.
The difference in the consumer base further complicates the situation. The Ghuggar LPG dealership has around 8,500 connections while the Palam Gas Service caters to nearly 28,000 consumers. Despite having fewer connections, the Ghuggar gas dealership reportedly receives limited supply, leading to delay and frustration among consumers.
Unaware of the technical and policy constraints, many consumers blame the gas agency staff, resulting in frequent disputes. Gas agency employees also face mounting pressure as a large number of residents visit their office every day to demand immediate refills. A senior officer of the HP State Civil Supply Corporation says that the gas agency is operating under the guidelines of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies and strictly adhering to the prescribed norms. He adds that the delay in the supply of LPG cylinders is intentional.
He says that technical challenges are also adding to the delay. Issues with the delivery application, including delayed updating of Delivery Authentication Codes (DAC), has slowed down the process further, causing system errors.
Consumers are now demanding that the Ghuggar area be reclassified as “urban” to bring it in line with other agencies, allowing refill booking within 35 days for the owners of two cylinders and 25 days for one cylinder owner. They have urged the authorities concerned to intervene and resolve the disparity.
